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Taking
a Stand!
Because Kids Matter and Teachers Care
"There
is a difference between breaking the law, and having a law created to
break you."
Linda
Coyle, President of The Charter for Public Education Network
Political Protest
October
23:
Teachers vote to end protest and will return to school Monday morning.
CNW
October 21: Locals
will be holding votes on Saturday and Sunday. Check with your local for
details of when and where. The BCTF Executive Committee is meeting Friday
night and will have recommendations to the local meetings. NOSTA
members will vote in Salmon Arm at the Baptist
Church off 30th St. NE (3151
6th Ave NE)
near King's Christain School on Saturday
October 22, at 4:00PM.
October 21: BCTF Executive reluctantly recommends
that teachers accept the recommendations of the facilitator. Jinny said,
"If they give to us, in writing, a commitment that before the end
of June, they will put in place firm numbers in the School Act for grades
4 to 12, and address class composition in the School Act, then we will
recommend to our membership, reluctantly, but we will, for our members
to vote on Saturday and Sunday so that our students can be back at school
on Monday morning." CBC,
BCTF
October
21: Civil
contempt ruling.
October 20: RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FACILITATOR (pdf
file) (analysis)
Summary:
1. $40 million to harmonize salary grids by March 31/06
2. $40 million to BCTF Long Term Disability Fund
3. TOC daily=$190 plus seniority accumulation
4. Learning Round Table to have more teacher reps
5. Increase moneys for learning conditions in this fiscal year from $150
million to $170 million ($20 million)
6. Effective mechanism for enforcement of the class size limitations (not
given)
October 20: Message to members: The BCTF Executive Committee
is meeting tonight. Once Ready's report is released, the EC will be carefully
considering the recommendations and reporting to members. You will hear
many other voices weighing in on this high profile news story. Please
be assured that the BCTF is respecting our union's democratic decision-making
processes and will be speaking on behalf of members once the decision
is made.
October 19: Sicamous parents, teachers, and support workers met
for an information session Wednesday evening. Recent history in teacher
bargaining was reviewed along with the idea that bargaining is is a basic
right. Parents asked questions and various teachers helped those gathered
to come to understand the danger this government's policies are to public
education.
October 19: CUPE tools down in the Okanagan
on Thursday October 20. Keeping up the pressure!
October 19: Jinny Sims message.
October
19: crown councilors speak
out.
October 18: Vince Ready is acting as a facilitator to promote
dialogue between the parties.
CBC.
October 18: A phone
survey by Ipsos-Reid showed that 57 per cent said they side with the teachers,
with 34 per cent supporting the school employers and the provincial government.
That's a slight gain for the teachers
from a similar survey taken a week earlier, showing them ahead by a margin
of 55 per cent to 33 per cent.
October 18:
CUPE keeps up the pressure. A massive rally was held outside her Prince
George offices as CUPE members in Northern BC left their jobs in support
of teachers. Way to go CUPE!
October 17: Victoria Protest. Four NOSTA members attended
the protest that saw over 15 thousand supporters of public education converge
on the legislative lawn. This number of protesters was obtained even though
teachers had to maintain picket lines at their worksites. The solidarity
teachers are receiving as they take a stand for the principles of free
collective bargaining and the quality of education is astounding. For
photos go here.
An article on the Legality
of the Liberal Governments Actions.
October 15: Important General Meeting. All members are encouraged
to attend. See your strike captain or call the NOSTA office (832-1933)
for time and place. See you there!
October 15: Rally in Victoria. The flyer has been removed from
the BCTF web site so see it here.
October 15: First stage in BCFed political action in support of teachers.
All BCFed affiliated union members in Greater Victoria will withdraw their
labour in support of teachers. CUPE members will go one step further and
withdraw all members on Vancouver Island. See the report here
and here. The teachers of NOSTA
are very appreciative of the support we are receiving. Thankyou.
October 13:
Hold the line! Please report for picket duty. Be united!
October 13: No
Fine! The ruling is here: BCPSEA
v. BCTF
October 11:
Teachers and CUPE support workers to receive partial pay at mid-month.
TOC pay unclear at print time.
October 12: Stephen
Naylors Letter to the Board
October
11: Questions
Presented to the Board Answers will be posted as they are received.
October
11: Photos
of Rally and School Board Meeting
October 11:
Rally in Salmon Arm,
School Board Meeting: 7pm at the hut.
On Wednesday, October 5, 2005, Nosta members met to vote on an
action plan in response to Bill 12. The following speech was given by
our President, Stephen Naylor: Stephen
Naylor's Speech
The "Taking a Stand!" handout is here:
Taking
a Stand! handout
Original Job Action
Teachers have voted overwhelmingly to strand up to a government that threatens
public education. Conditions in our schools have deteriorated ever since
the Liberals came to power. Teachers are very reluctant to take strike
action and seldom have been on strike. We all know that education does
matter and time in school is important. It is however, not an essential
service in the way that health care is. Teachers are withdrawing teaching
services now because they believe that any harm in the short term will
produce vital improvements for students for the longer term.
Teachers are asking for the following (in this order):
1. Improved learning conditions like limits on class size.
2. Bargaining rights restored.
3. A fair and reasonable salary increase.
Starting Wednesday September 28, teachers will begin modest job action
aimed at inconveniencing administrators. This will escalate in the weeks
to follow if a reasonable settlement cannot be reached.
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